What is there to Do in St Kitts?

Visit the Brimstone Hill Fortress open daily 930am to 530pm.  $10 entry.

Hike the 4 mile trail up to the peak of 3,792ft Mt Liamuiga.

Bask on white sand at Southfriars Beach or Cockleshell Beach

Get out on the ocean on a Mini Speedboat and Snorkel Tour.  For $79, they’ll take you from the cruise port for a three hour tour in 2 person speedboat, with a snorkel stop.

SCUBA Dive. There’s a broad and colorful range of reefs, ship wrecks, and caves

Take a day trip over to Nevis island.  They’ll pick you up and your guide will take you on a 45-minute ferry tour around the island.  You’ll visit historic attractions and learn about the history of Nevis and the life of Alexander Hamilton, who was born on the island.

Our Experience in St Kitts:

St. Kitts and Nevis is the smallest, least populated sovereign nation in the Western Hemisphere.  The entire population of the country is 55,000.  It’s sort of the Liechtenstein of the Americas.  And much like Liechtenstein, it attracts many foreigners with tax bills to avoid, or a sudden need for a passport other than their home countries. If you can afford a nominal $157,500 fee, you can have Kittitian citizenship within six months.

Things you Need to Know about St Kitts:

Backpacker Daily Budget:  

$110 – There are no hostels.  Lodging is overpriced.  All activities are at tourist prices.

Cheap Beer index: 

$3 for a 12oz bottle of Carib in a bar or restaurant

When to visit Saint Kitts: 

Anytime of year is good to visit St. Kitts, with year-round highs in the 80’s.  February and March are the driest months, October and November the rainiest.  The only weather issue to consider is hurricane season.  Hurricanes are possible June through November.  You can find some great deals in September and October if you are willing to take a risk.

What languages are spoken in Saint Kitts?  

St Kitts Creole and English.

Do you need a visa?  

Visas are not required for nationals of USA, UK, AUS, and CAN for stays of up to 30 days.

How to get to Saint Kitts:  

The most common means of arrival and departure is a cruise ship.

Basseterre airport (SKG) has direct flights to Toronto, Miami, Charlotte, New York-JFK, Antigua, London, Atlanta, Saint Maarten, Tortola, Minneapolis, and Newark.

There is a ferry which connects St Kitts to Nevis, leaving every two hours.  It costs $10USD each way for adults.

To get around St Kitts, you can rent a car, hail a taxi, try to figure out the public bus system, or join a tour.  Micro buses form the public transportation system on the island. These are much cheaper than taxis and can be flagged down while in route. However, service does not generally extend to Frigate Bay or the Southern Peninsula.

Learn how to get to St. Kitts for free on my page:  Nine Steps to Free Flights Worldwide

Saint Kitts Currency and how to get it: 

East Caribbean Dollar  (2.7 XCD=$1 permanent peg) are available at ATMs.  For more info on your cash-versus-credit card options when travelling, check out my post on How to Access your Money in Foreign Countries.

Stay Connected:  

There are two telecom providers:

• Flow – Their SIM card is sold in their stores on both islands for EC$ 25. Be prepared to show your passport at the point of purchase. For 4G/LTE be sure to get a 4G/LTE-enabled SIM.  Top-ups between EC$ 5 and EC$ 200 can be made online or in top-up kiosks, supermarkets and gas stations all over the islands. Any top-up stays valid for 90 days irrespective of the amount.  For roaming in the US (on AT&T), Canada, Suriname, Bermuda, Guyana, Trinidad & Tobago, Panama, Bahamas and all Flow markets in the Carribbean; they sell a Travelpass Data plan for EC$ 45 with 500 MB for 7 days.
• Digicel – Their SIM card is sold in their stores on both islands for EC$ 20. Be prepared to show your passport at the point of purchase.  Top-ups between EC$ 5 and EC$ 200 can be made online or in top-up kiosks, supermarkets and gas stations all over the islands.
• For more info on your telecom options, check out my post on How to Get Cheap Mobile Phone Service Worldwide.

Where to stay on St. Kitts:  

There are no hostels on the island.  The cheapest lodging at press time is the Fern Tree B&B at $73 a night.

Get a guidebook:

  Lonely Planet Caribbean Islands will tell you all you need to know about St Kitts as well as any other islands you may visit.

What to Pack:

Bring a snorkel and a travel towel.  To learn how to pack light and be prepared for anything, check out my post The Worldwide Travel Packing List.

Is Saint Kitts safe? 

It feels very safe doing touristy things in daytime.   However, St. Kitts has one of the higher murder rates in the world at 34 per 100,000 (comparable to Newark, NJ).  It is a drug trans-shipment island, and most murders are involved with that.  Do not wander around Basseterre at night, or go looking for drugs or other illegal activities here.

When you are ready to book your trip, be sure to use the best booking sites:

Book Your Flight:

Find your flight using Momondo.com. It is the best airfare search engine, as it finds the cheapest flights, and will find ALL the flights. (Here’s the proof.)

Book Your Accommodation:

Choose your lodging using Booking.com as they consistently return the cheapest rates. (Here’s the proof.)

Get Travel Insurance:

You can’t afford to travel without travel insurance.  Car accidents, illnesses, and theft do happen. It could save your life. I never travel without it. I use World Nomads.

Need Some Gear?

Check out my Worldwide Travel Packing List for the best travel gear for your adventures.  I’ve already read all the online reviews, and tested it all out, so you can just click and buy the best stuff.

THANKS FOR READING

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The post What to Do in St Kitts Island: Beaches and Brimstone. first appeared on Worldwide Wilbur.